4. We Discuss (20 minutes)
5. The Scripture Speaks (5 minutes)
6. We Respond With:
Discussion (20 minutes)
Prayer (5 minutes)
Action (10 minutes)
7. Closing Prayer (5 minutes)
8. Decisions for next meeting: date, location, who will plan,
lead prayers, provide refreshments
9. Refreshments
GROUP MEETING ONE
Personal Preparation Before the Meeting:
Read and reflect on sections:
The Church’s Role on Public Moral Issues
The Right to Life and the Quality of Life
Opening Prayer:
Assessment of "where we are":
Briefly discuss: How have previous experiences influenced our thinking about
abortion.
The Bishops Speak:
About the Church’s role on public moral issues;
About the profound value and dignity of human life;
Abortion as an offense against the human person;
The consistent ethic of life setting forth the united moral
vision as context for addressing a wide range of issues that endanger human
dignity.
Care is taken to show that abortion is the fundamental human
rights issue of our day, linking it with justice, violence and powerlessness.
The right to life and the quality of life after birth.
The social justice factor.
We Discuss: Select an appropriate
number of discussion questions:
Why do the Bishops consider abortion the fundamental human
rights issue of our day?
"A society that fails to stand on the side of life
plants the seeds of its own destruction." Do you think this statement is
valid? Can you think of concrete examples that show it to be true?
This Nation was founded on the premise that the right to
life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are inalienable rights for all. The
Pastoral says that there has been an erosion of what was once a consensus
about the moral truths that undergird civil law.
What evidence is there that such an erosion is taking
place, and to what extremes?
What do you see as causes of this erosion?
What attitudes and values about human life would a foreign
visitor to our nation conclude are ours if s/he relied on the media for this
observation? How well has media marketing by national groups succeeded in
changing attitudes and values about human life?
What is the marketing advantage of certain abortion groups
in using the term "pro-choice" as they identify their positions
about abortion, and "anti-abortion" as they identify those who
support the right of the unborn to life?
Discuss how the developments in medical technology have
created a new urgency to defend unborn human life? How can the advances in
medical technology threaten further an erosion of our values?
How has the Church tried consistently to speak out in order
to counter this erosion of Christian values about life? Identify papal
documents and documents of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops that
have been published since 1990? How is it that these strong voices in the
Church are almost ignored in our society?
Why is it important to situate the abortion issue within the
framework of the consistent ethic of life?
Discuss the following statement from the Pastoral in terms
of social justice?
"…The right to life of the unborn becomes the symbol
of that (consistent) ethic of life. The unborn child is a kind of prism of
society’s regard for the helpless, the dependent, the unwanted, or the
powerless. The unborn child creates a special test for the moral vision."
Some describe American society as a ‘violent society’
and the culture as a ‘culture of death’. Do you see the pro-abortion,
pro-choice stance of so many as a playing out of power and violence against
the poor, enlarging the gender gap for women who head households? Is it fair
to say that society may want to get rid of the poor and the sick to lessen
their social justice responsibility?
How do the Kentucky statistics compare with the national
statistics?
The Scripture Speaks: Read Psalm
139:13-18
In this Psalm God speaks to us of the value of life. When one
realizes s/he lives in God’s Presence, all life takes on deeper meaning.
Name some times when it seems easy to forget this intimacy
with God?
When do we most need to reflect upon this truth?
How can we communicate this dimension of life to those who
consider abortion a valid personal choice?
We Respond in Prayer: Having spent a
few moments reflecting upon God’s Word contained in Psalm 139, let us offer
the following intercessions. Please respond: Lord, hear our prayer.
That we may better understand the sacredness of human life,
we pray…
That we may recognize that all attacks on human life are
actually acts of violence, we pray…
That we may learn to see the image of God in all human life,
we pray…
(Other petitions from the group may be added.)
We Respond in Action:
What concrete actions can we take to help make that for which
we pray become reality? Personally? In our immediate relationships? In society?
Closing Prayer
GROUP MEETING TWO
Personal Preparation Before the Meeting:
Read and reflect on sections:
Alternatives to Abortion: Life Affirming Help and Hope
Catholics and Conscience
Political Life and Conscience
Political Responsibility
The Natural Choice is Life
Opening Prayer:
Assessment of "where we are":
Briefly discuss where you are in regard to the effect that a week of reflection
on the previous discussion has had on your thinking.
The Bishops Speak:
About the social justice factor, especially the feminization
of poverty, plight of children, principles derived from a biblical morality;
Alternatives to abortion and our responsibility to make the
choice for life possible and acceptable;
Church teaching and formation of conscience for individuals,
and the responsibility persons have in the political arena.
We Discuss: Select an appropriate number of discussion
questions for the time allotted:
How are the following statements related:
"Abort rather than support."
"Yes" to life must include a "Yes" to
social justice.
In what ways does the feminization of poverty touch the
abortion issues and the quality of life issues?
What can we do to promote quality of life for children and
women who are caught in the dilemma of poverty?
The Pastoral speaks of the obligation each person has to
know and follow the Church’s teaching and the obligation, as well, to form
one’s conscience in accord with the truth of the gospel.
How does a Catholic carry out these obligations in our day
What assistance is provided?
What more needs to be done to help us
- Grow in knowledge of the Church’s teaching?
- Form our conscience in accord with the gospel?
What is the difference between the objective moral order and
the subjective judgment of conscience?
What factors can diminish culpability for error?
Why is it crucial to distinguish between error and
the person in error?
Why is the catch-phrase "I personally oppose abortion,
BUT…" an unacceptable evasion?
Is abortion merely a Catholic sectarian belief?
How should religious and moral principles affect public
life?
What responsibility do elected officials have to publicly
defend sound moral principles?
Give examples of some creative means available to elected
officials to do so.
In judging the merits of a political candidate, the bishops
"expect voters to avoid narrow self-interest."
How should we inform ourselves about the fitness of a
candidate, beyond a single-issue evaluation?
In recent years, the "right of privacy" has been
loudly declared as a norm for moral decisions. The Pastoral says that such
individualism ignores the social nature of the human person.
Discuss the importance of balancing the privacy argument
with the relational nature of persons.
What is the social impact of abortion?
Identify several other common statements used by those
promoting abortion that are marked by suave, seemingly convincing—but false—reasoning.
Give examples of distorted usage of terms such as
"freedom," "choice," "rights,"
"privacy."
Considering the natural relationship of parents to children—born
and unborn—what responsibility rests with the father of babies involved in
problem pregnancy?
Discuss sexual permissiveness versus the covenant love of
marriage.
What can we do to restore the Christian perspective of
marriage?
The Scripture Speaks: Read Deuteronomy 30:15-20
‘The natural choice is life’ is the phrase chosen by the
National Conference of Catholic Bishops, and by Kentucky’s bishops in this
Pastoral to express the Roman Catholic teaching on respect for human dignity and
human life.
How are we challenged to protect and nurture life in our
daily routine?
The Pastoral calls us to develop life-affirming attitudes?
The logic of argument can never transplant the logic
of the heart.
From this Scripture passage what conduct speaks this logic of
the heart?
"I set before you life and death, the blessing and the
curse…" How can we foster life - the blessing spoken of in this
passage?
We Respond in Prayer: Having spent a
few moments reflecting upon God’s Word contained in Deuteronomy, chapter 30,
let us offer the following intercessions. Please respond: Lord, hear our prayer.
That we may have the wisdom to choose life and to know its
blessings, we pray…
That we may create life-affirming environment in the
workplace and homes, we pray…
That we may examine our attitudes and seek conversion of
heart from those tendencies we discover that are indicative of the power,
control or violence that is not life-affirming, we pray…
(Other petitions from the group may be added.)
We Respond in Action:
What concrete actions can we take to help bring to reality
that for which we pray? Personally? In our immediate relationships? In society?
Closing Prayer
GROUP MEETING THREE
Personal Preparation Before the Meeting:
Read and reflect on sections:
Part II The Pastoral Plan
Prayer and Liturgy
Opening Prayer:
Assessment of "where we are":
Briefly discuss where you are in regard to the effect that a week of reflection
on the previous discussion has had on your thinking.
The Bishops Speak:
Part II considers the Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities.
It is seen as an integrated approach for pro-life activities. The three-pronged
initiative in these spheres will be studied:
Educational and Public Information
Pastoral Effort
Public Policy
In this gathering we will study the first building block of
the Pastoral Plan--the educational and public information program, and Pastoral
Effort--Prayer and Liturgy.
We Discuss: Select an appropriate
number of discussion questions for the time allotted:
The Pastoral states that there is a critical need to inform
public opinion by creating awareness of and clarifying the basic issues
involved in the public discussion of abortion and other human life issues.
From your study of the Pastoral and from previous
discussions, what would you identify as the "basic issues"?
Name some ways the ordinary person can create awareness of
these basic issues.
Often the pro-choice strategies confuse the issue by means
of carefully worded statements. How can the ordinary person clarify the real
issue at stake?
Where can we find the basic issues stated in clear terms?
The Bishops link participation in the debate about abortion
with forming one's conscience and promoting justice. "Actions speak
louder than words."
Give examples of ways in which the ordinary person can speak
out effectively for life.
Give examples of ways in which some have entered the more
public arena to "speak" for life.
Regarding Letters to the Editor, do you read these? Have you
written a letter to the editor to express your point of view?
How could this be a positive action on behalf of life?
It has been said that one of the greatest hindrances to
changing perceptions and attitudes on life issues is our boredom or
disinterest in the issues themselves. Many people think they know all there is
to know about abortion and other life issues and don't see the need for
further learning. This boredom is usually accompanied by lack of enthusiasm
and unwillingness to enter into discussion on these issues.
(How prevalent do you think this "boredom"
actually is?
(Has the partial-birth abortion issue affected personal
reflection and public awareness? Why did this issue create an outcry among
people? How did this happen and what can we learn for the future from the
public response?
What is the place of Catholic education in furthering the
respect for life issues?
What courses, programs, conferences, seminars have been
offered?
How can we promote in the hearts of young people the firm
teaching of the Church about life? Who bears responsibility that this is
taught at home? In school?
Is there a special obligation for the parish to provide
information and formation about respect for human life? What does your parish
provide? What would you like your parish to be able to provide? How can these
needs be met?
"Above all, we must remember that intellectual
formation must be integrated with example and witness inspired by lived
convictions."
What does this mean in practical terms?
Pope John Paul II, in his encyclical, The Gospel of Life,
states that we are to be a "people of life and for life."
Discuss the place of prayer and conversion in our pro-life
efforts?
Discuss the virtues that Pope John Paul holds as essential
to our spirituality. How can these virtues be promoted?
The Scripture Speaks: Read Isaiah
49:13-16
How does this passage relate to our commitment toward human
life?
We Respond in Prayer: Having spent a
few moments reflecting upon the passage from Isaiah, let us offer the following
intercessions. Please respond: Lord, hear our prayer.
That we may grow in our experience of the unconditional love
of God, we pray…
That we may find words to speak of God's love, we pray…
That all parents may grow in their understanding of their
primary responsibility for their children's formation in the faith, we pray…
That our daily prayer may strengthen us in our belief in
human life and in our willingness to put our belief into our conversations and
actions, we pray…
(Other petitions from the group may be added.)
We Respond in Action:
What concrete actions can we take to help bring to reality
that for which we pray? Personally? In our immediate relationships? In society?
Closing Prayer
GROUP MEETING FOUR
Personal Preparation Before the Meeting:
Read and reflect on sections:
Service and Care
Reconciliation (Pastoral Care)
Public Policy
Conclusion
Opening Prayer:
Assessment of "where we are":
Briefly discuss where you are in regard to the effect that a week of reflection
on the previous discussion has had on your thinking.
The Bishops Speak:
In this gathering we will continue consideration of the
Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities. Focus during this session will be placed
on Pastoral Effort and Public Policy.
We Discuss: Select an appropriate
number of discussion questions for the time allotted:
"Prayer moves us to action."
Discuss this statement. Do you find from your own experience
that this is true?
In the section "Service and Care" there are seven
life-supporting measures indicated.
What services are offered at the diocesan level and at the
parish level that provide a response to the needs mentioned?
How informed are you about such services? What additional
information would be helpful in order that you may be active in support of
those in need? What steps can you take individually and as a group to become
an informed person/group?
Opportunities For Life has been established by the Kentucky’s
Bishops to offer alternatives to abortion.
(Other than contributing to the annual collection in January
for OFL, how do you and; your parish participate in this ministry? Any trained
volunteers" Any parish contact persons? Is God perhaps calling you to
seek training?
Pastoral Care, as part of the Plan, calls us to witness to
the unconditional love of God for the sinner.
What does unconditional love imply for those who serve in
the ministry of life? How does this unconditional love manifest itself in our
words and actions?
If we wish to provide pastoral care, what attitudes are we
called to develop in ourselves?
Pope John Paul II speaks of the heart of Christ in
addressing women who have had an abortion. What does the Pope offer
post-abortive women?
How does Project Rachel further the statement of the Pope?
Are we in need of becoming educated about the purposes of
Project Rachel?
Public Policy has both long range and short range policy
goals.
What confusion in the rendering of Roe vs. Wade has led to
further confusion about life in subsequent court decisions? How has this
hindered the achievement of better legal protection for the unborn?
At times of national and state elections, the issue of
abortion is hotly debated. Candidates for office are threatened with defeat if
they stand up on the side of life. How can we support and encourage candidates
who respect life?
"The conflict over imperfect law has definitely been
divisive to the pro-life movement." The quotation from Cardinal O’Connor
indicates that while we work for secure the maximum degree of protection for
the unborn, it is morally acceptable at times to support a pro-life bill that
contains exceptions.
What other church statements indicate the morality of
supporting less than perfect laws for the protection of unborn human life?
How will charity and civility show themselves during life
issue debates? What impact can charity and civility have on these debates?
Cardinal Bernardin is quoted as warning respect life groups
that more than a proclaimed position is needed in our pluralistic society.
What should characterize persons who work to achieve
protection for life at all stages?
What commitment have the bishops of Kentucky made in this
Pastoral regarding the implementation of the Pastoral Plan?
(The response of the Catholic people of Kentucky is vital to
the implementation of this Plan. Having looked at the invitation made in the
Conclusion of the Pastoral, how do you see yourself becoming involved in the
Plan?
How do you see your parish becoming involved in the Plan?
The Scripture Speaks: Read Matthew
25:31-46
Apply Christ’s teaching to the content of the Pastoral
Plan.
How are we called to respond to the needs of the least of
those in our society?
We Respond in Prayer:
Having spent a few minutes in reflection on our attitudes and
values, we offer the following intercessions. The response is: Lord, hear my
prayer.
That we may not be afraid to listen to the challenge that
Christ places before us, we pray…
That we may grow in reverence for life, we pray…
That we may be open to the workings of the Holy Spirit and
respond to the inspirations that grace places in our hearts, we pray…
That all leadership—our bishops and all in church
ministry, those elected to civil office—may have the courage to speak and
act on behalf of life, we pray…
We Respond in Action:
What concrete actions can we take to help bring to reality
that for which we pray? Personally? In our immediate relationships? In society?
Closing Prayer
502-875-2841 Fax